Biogeochemical tracing techniques to study the flood runoff generation processes at small representative catchments (case of south Pacific Russia)
Vladimir Shamov1, Boris I. Gartsman1,2, T.S. Gubareva1,2, A.G. Boldeskul1, Nadezhda K. Kozhevnikova3, T.N. Lutsenko1, S.Yu. Lupakov1,4, E.A. Shekman1, A.M. Tarbeeva5, G.A. Chelnokov6, Maxim L. Burdukovskiy3, A.V. Orlyakovskiy1,4, A.A. Mikhailik7, I.V. Tokarev8 & A.V. Kozachek9
1Pacific Institute of Geography FEB RAS, Vladivostok, 690041, Russia 2Water Problems Institute RAS, Moscow, 119333, Russia 3Federal Center for Biodiversity FEB RAS, Vladivostok, 690022, Russia 4Far East Federal University, Vladivostok, 690950, Russia 5The Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia 6Far East Geological Institute, Vladivostok, 690022, Russia 7Pacific Oceanography Institute FEB RAS, Vladivostok, 690041, Russia 8The Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, 199034, Russia 9Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute, Saint Petersburg, 199397, Russia
Extremely high variation in rainfall rates (up to 200–300 mm per day as typical in Pacific Russia monsoon climate) provides as usual 10–20 times increase in discharge values in river flow. How and how fast does atmospheric water reach the streams? The authors share their recent (2011–2017) experience in the present-day biogeochemical tracing techniques application to the summer runoff generation research. A sort of methodology termed the Mobile Research Catchment (MRC) is offered to be discussed. That approach is illustrated by the case short-term studies from some small research catchments in Sikhote-Alin Mountains, mostly the Ussuri/Wusuli River headwaters. The advantages and limitations of use of natural dissolved solids are shown, and the available methods of high temporal and spatial resolution hydrological monitoring for precipitation and flow, and chemical features of atmospheric, soil (subsurface), low stream and flood stream water and, also, laboratory analysis of water samples to reveal tracers to track the stream flow sources, are presented. Combined hydrological and biogeochemical monitoring results in discrete concentration–time series and continuous discharge series, which allow to obtain some detailed information about the stream flow generation mechanism and catchment- and slope-scale flow paths as mostly based on the End Members Mixing Analysis modelling. The biogeochemical tracers provide the estimating the volume of the slope conduits (big drains), shallow groundwater and event water contributions to stream flow. The proposed MRC–approach seems to have significant implications for short-term hydrological and environmental research in vast scarcely studied areas of the North East Asia.